Garment press



Aug. 2, 1927.

C. E. WAREAM GARMENT PRESS Filed Oct. 15. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

A TTORNE Y5,

Aug. 2, 1927.

' 1,637,598 I c. E. WAREAM GARMENT PRESS Filed Oct. 15. 3 21 5Sheets-Sheet 5 r INVENTOR W 6'. WEI MM I By A TTORNEY$ I Aug. 2, 1927. 1

C. E. WAREAM GARMENT PRES S 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 15, 1921 IA IIIIINVENTOR A TTORNE Y5 Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. WAREAM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRYMACHINERY COMPANY, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

GARMENT PRESS.

Application filed October 15, 1921.

This invention relates to improvements in garment presses.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved garment pressin which the lower buck or pressing member is raised and lowered intoand out of pressing en gagement with the upper pressing member, togetherwith means also for moving the lower buck laterally into and out ofposition beneath the upper pressing member;

to provide means for effecting and controlling the several movements ofthe lower buck including means for automatically stopping the lower buckupon being moved laterally from under the upper pressing member;

further, to provide a steam valve mechanism for effecting the raisingand lowering of the lower buck and an electric control means for thesteam valve mechanism; to provide also an improved finger guard withmeans for automatically moving the same into and out of operativeposition accord ing to the position of the lower buck; and also toprovide an improved structure of supporting and operating means forpermitting the several movements of the lower buck. w

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims whenconsidered together with the accompanying drawig. 1 is a front elevationof my improved garment press; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3,3 of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figs. '1, 2 and 7; Figs. 5and6 are detail views. partly in section, of one of the third rails;Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 77 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 8 isa vertical longitudinal section showing in detail the operatingmechanism on line 8-8 of Figs. 7, 9 and 10 Fig. 9 is a verticaltransverse section showing in detail the operating mechanism taken online 9-9 of Figs. 1, 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken online 10-10 of Figs. 1, 2 and 7; Fig. 11 is a detail view showing theclutch operating mechanism; Fig. 12 is a 0 transverse section of thetiming gear taken on line 12-12 of Figs. 7, 9 and 10, certain cams beingomitted for simplicity of illustration, and Fig. 13 is a diagram of theelectric control system.

The base 1 i pr ded W h- 119 pp rt Serial No. 507,984.

ing arms 2 from which extend upwardly the standards 3 for supporting theupper pressing member 4 by means of the arms 5 extending inwardly fromthe standards 3. The upper pressing member 4 is a hollow body, as shownin the drawings, and is adapted to be heated by steam in any suitableand well known manner as is already old in the art. This upper pressingmember remains stationary at all times. The lower pressing member 6,which has a layer of padding 7, is supportedby the pedestal 8 which inturn is carried by the carriage 9. The tray. 10 is also provided. Thecarriage 9 is adapted to be raised and lowered for bringing the lowerpressing member or buck into operative engagement with the upperpressing member and is also adapted to be moved laterally so as to movethe lower pressing member into and out of position beneath the upperpressing member. The press, therefore, is adapted for operation, as willappear, by two stages, to wit, a first stage in which the lower pressingmember is moved horizontally into registering relation with the upperpressing member and then vertically into pressing relation or engagementtherewith, and a second stage in which the lower pressing member islowered away from the upper pressing member and then moved out ofregistering relation therewith. The pedestal 8 is provided with adepending post 11, which is adapted to be engaged by the plunger rod 12actuated by the plunger 13 in the cylinder 14. Steam is adapted to enterthrough the inlet 15 through the inlet valve indicated at 16 to theunderside of the plunger 13 for raising the plunger rod 12 against thedepending post 11 so as to raise the lower pressing member into itsupper engaging position. The outlet valve is indicated at 17. The

valve arrangement may be designed after 'in turn is pivotally connectedat 20 to the one end of the rocker arm 21 pivotally mount d at 22 u onthe bracket 23 on the frame of the machine. The outlet valve 17 has itsstem 24 connected to the link 25 which in turn is pivotally connected at26 to the other end of the rocker arm 21. The arm 27 is connected at itsone end to the axis of the crank arm 23 and has pivotal connection atits other end at 28 to the operating rod 29, which, when operated in themanner to be later described, will effect operation of the valvemechanism in the manner just now referred to. The pedestal 8 is providedwith the depending posts 30, which are adapted to have guidingengagement with recesses in the correspondingly formed wells or sockets31 provided with the springs 31 to cushion the lowering movement of thelower pressing member.

The carriage 9 is provided with the depending bracket arms 82 providedwith lateral flanges 33 for sliding engagement with rollers 37 on thethird rail member 34, which is mounted in the upwardly extendingbrackets 35 on the frame of the 'machine. These brackets are providedalso with overhanging housing portions 36. The third rails 34 carry alsothe rollers 38 for engagement" between the edges of the flanges 33 andthe inwardly extending portions or tracks 39 on the bracketsThe'brackets 35 are provided also with the tracks 40 and 41 forengagement by the rollers 37. The carriage 9 is provided also with abracket 45 through which extends the pin 46 surrounded by the springs 47on the two sides of the bracket. The free end of the pin 46 carries thenut 48 as an abutment for one of the springs. The other end of the rod46 has pivotal connection at 49 with the lever arm 50, which in turn ispivotally mounted at 51 upon a bracket portion of the machine frame. Thelever arm is provided with a depending arm 52, the lower end of whichhas swivel connection at 53 with the link arm 54, which is in turnswivelly connected at 55 with one end of the crank 56, the other end ofwhich is fixed upon the shaft 57 for operation of the mechanism just nowdescribed. A suitable housing is provided for the operating mechanism.By operation of the crank arm 56 it will be seen that the lower buck ismoved laterally into and out of position beneath the upper pressingmember. The means for operating the crank arm 56 will be describedlater.

The electric motor 58 drives the worm 59, which meshes with the wormgear 60 carried by a sleeve 61 loosely mounted upon the shaft 57. Thesame sleeve 61 carries also the pinion 62 and the clutch disc 63. Theclutch disc 63 is provided on its one side with the teeth 64, which areadapted for clutching engagement with the corresponding teeth 65 on theclutch 66, which is keyed to the shaft 57. The clutch 66 is normallyforced by the spring 67 toward clutching engagement with the teeth 64and is held in unclutched or released position by means of the yokemember 68 pivotally mounted upon the frame at 69. This yoke member hasswivel connection at 70 with the clutch 66 and carries a roller 71 foractuation by the cam member 7 2 provided upon the clutch plate 63.WVhile 73 which is pivotally mounted in the frame of the machine. Uponone face of this timing gear 73 there is provided cam member 74 whilethe other face of the timing gear carries the cam member 75, these. twocam members being adapted to engage in proper sequence the rollers 76carried by the arms of the yoke member 77, which is pivoted at 78 in theframe of the machine. The lower end of the yoke member 77 has pivotalcon- .nection at 79 with the link 80 whose other end is pivotallyconnected at 81 with the depending arm 82 which in turn has fixedconnection with the longer arm 84. The two arms 82 and 84 are pivotallymounted at 83 on the bracket 85 provided on the frame of the machine.The lower end of the arm 84 is pivoted at 86 to the sleeve 87 which ismovably mounted upon the rod 29 between the springs 88, which areprovided with suitable abutments 89 upon the rod 29. Thus it will beseen that upon operation of the electric motor, the pinion 62 will drivethe timing gear 73, which will cause proper timed engagement of the cammembers 74 and 75 with the rollers 76 for operation of the connectingrod 29. In this way the steam valve mechanism is actuated so that thesteam is permitted to force the lower pressing member into engagementwith the upper presssing-member, and then when desired by the operator,the steam can be released so. as to permit the lower pressing member todescend.

The timing gear 73 carries also contact segments 90, 91 and contact ring92 for controlling the circuits through the electric motor so as toautomatically cut out the motor at predetermined points in the raisingand lowering of the lower pressing member. Contact plates 93 and 94 arealso provided for electric connection between the contact ring 92 andthe contact segments and 91. The ,brushes 95 and 96 are adapted forcircuit closing engagement with the contact segments and the contactring respectively. Contact segments 90 and 91 are separated by gaps 97and 98 which represent the points at which the motor will beautomatically stopped. 7

Referring to the diagram of the electric control system for the motor,the safety switch 99 is normally closed at all times but can be openedto stop the motor at any time desired. When sw1tch [99 is closed andwhen the parts are in the position shown in the electric diagram, therewill be a closed circuit from the positive side of the main line throughthe switch 99, wire 100, brush 96, contact ring 92, plate 94, contactsegment 91, brush 95, wire 103 and through the motor to the negativeside of the mam line. The motor under these conditions will be inoperation and will cause rotation of the timing gear for actuation ofthe parts controlled thereby. Then, with the parts in the position shownin the drawings, cam will actuate yoke member 77 and raise the lowerpressing member to pressing position. When, however, the timmg gear hasrotated to the position where brush 95 is opposite the gap 97, thecircuit through the motor will be broken and the motor will thereforestop. The steampressure will however remain and the lower pressingmember willremain in engagement with the upper pressing member until themotor is again started for lowering the same. When, in the judgment ofthe operator, the pressing has been completed, he will close springrelease switch 104 so as to close the circuit from the positive side ofthe main line through wire 105, switch 104 and through the motor to thenegative side of the main line. The 0 erator will hold switch 104 closedonly so ong as isnecessary to operate the motor sufiiclently to causemovement of the timing gear to effect electric contact between theother. contact segment and brush 95. Then upon releasi switch 104 thefollowing circuit is establishe through the motor: from the positiveside of the main line, through switch 99, wire 100, brush 96, contactring 92,. connecting plate 93, segmental contact 90, brush 95, wire 103and through the motor to the negative side of the main line. Such oration of the motor and timing gear 73 will cause the roller 76 on theother side of the timing gear to be actuated by the cam member 74 withthe result that the connecting rod 29. r is then moved in the as toreverse the steam valve connection. by'

opposite direct-ion so closing off the inlet valve and opening theoutlet valve, to thereby permit the lowering o f the lower pressingmember to idle position. This condition of the steam valves ismaintained until the lower pressing mem-. ber has not only-been loweredbut also until the carriage is moved outwardly and the so as to open thesteam inlet valve lower buck brought to a position from under the up orpressing member as before explaineri. show that b caused the owering ofthe lower pressing member, dis-en agement will be effected between thecam %2 and the roller 71 so as to permit the clutch 66 to be thrown intooperation for rotation of the shaft 57, which will then cause thelateral movement of the carria e. Then when the carriage has'been movelaterally it will be seen that the timing sition as to cause the gap 98to come opposite the'brush 95 and to break the circuit through themotor; The lower pressing member is then in r0 r position for removingthe work w ic has been operated upon and to place another garment uponthe same for ressing operation. When this has been one the operator willclose the switch 104 and hold the same closed until the motor ispermitted to run sufficiently long to cause the timing gear 73 to bringthe segmental contact 91 opposite the brus 95. It will be noted that theclutch 66 is still inoperative engagement, and that upon operation ofthe motor as just described, the carriage will be moved back again so asto place the lower pressing member in a position beneath 'the upperpressing member. As soon as this has cam 72 will have been moved out ofengagement with the roller 71 so that the clutch 66 becomes disenga g zdand the shaft 57 is no longer rotated. e lower pressing member is thencaused to be movedkgpwardly in the manner as already descri in the firstpart'of the recital of operations. 7 have provided also a finger guard106 carried by the arm 107, which is pivotally mounted at 108 on the topof the upper pres'sin Reference to the drawings will the time the timinggear has been accomplished, the

gear 73 has been rotated to such pomember 4. The rear end of the arm 10has pivotal connection at 109.with

the downwardl extending rod 110, the lower end of w ich is pivoted toone arm of the'bell crank lever 111. Thisbell crank a roller the machineand is adapted to be guard I fromv s wered so as to prevent accidentalmser tion of the operators fingers between two pressing members. Thisoperation is effected by H with the bell crank lever 111, which 1sthereby caused to rock and to efl'ect 13110 1118- ing and loweringengagement of the roller 118 movement of the finger .%la:rd through theconnections described."

en, however, the lower buck occupies a position out from under the upperpressing,

member, the finger guard is caused to 0ccupy a raised position so as topermit ready access to the press. A cushion spring 115 is provided forthe one end of the bell crank lever 111 and a set screw 116 is providedalso for engagement with the frame work of the machine structure.

What I claim is:

1. A garment press including relatively movable pressing members, acarriage supporting one of said members and movable laterally with saidpressing member, said one pressing member being movable towards and frompressing engagement with the other pressing member,'fiuid means foreffecting said pressing engagement between said members, and electricmeans for eflecting lateral mevement of said carriage and forcontrolling said fluid means.

2. A garment press including relatively movable pressing members, acarriage supportin one of said members and movable lateral y with saidpressing member, said one pressing member being movable towards and frompressing engagement with the other pressing member, fluid means foreffecting said pressing engagement between said members, means forefi'ecting lateral movement of said carriage, and cam means actuated bysaid last named means for controlling said fiuid means.

3. A garment press including relatively movable pressing members, acarriage supporting one of said members and movable laterally with saidone pressing member being movable towards and from pressing engagementwith the other pressing member, an electric motor for moving saidcarriage laterally, means controlled by said electric motor for movingsaid one pressing member towards and from the other pressing member, andmeans for automatically breaking the circuit through said motor atpredetermined points in t e operation of the press.

4. A pressing machine, comprising a stationary pressing head, a carriageslidable laterally from a position at one side of the same into and outof registering relation beneath the same, a pressing bed supported bysaid carriage for cooperation with said head, power operatixi andcontrolling means for said bed operal i le in two stages, one stage ofsaid operation moving the carriage laterally into position beneath thehead and the bed and upwardly into pressing engagement therewith, andanother stage moving the bed downwardly out of pressing engagement withthe head and the carriage laterally out of registration therewith, saidoperating and controlling means including an electric motor, acommutator controller therefor, and means for closing the circuit tosaid motor independently of said controller.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

CHARLES E. WAREAM.

pressing member, said

